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'This planned demonstration was to be a peaceful one, coming from Westminster and travelling past the Conservative party HQ in Millbank, before ending at Tate Britain.

'At about 2pm the march reached the HQ and a large group gathered outside, with the police quickly becoming outnumbered.

'The protestors stormed into the building and reached the roof at about 3pm.

'A fire extinguisher was thrown from the building, narrowly missing officers on the ground. The police were subjected to assault and had missiles thrown at them.

BBC cameras captured Bryan Simpson, in red, as a police medic's cap is pulled off. He has been spared jail

'At the time, members of the Conservative party were working in the building and were extremely concerned for their safety.

'At one point, a fire had been lit in the courtyard outside, resulting in the fire alarms being activated, and the security and fire doors were opened.'

The court was shown CCTV footage of the violence in which Simpson is seen wearing a distinctive red outfit and shouting and swearing at police officers.

Mr Apsted added: 'He is seen to throw a megaphone at police lines and while a police medic is trying to deal with other people, he is seen to remove his flat cap.'

Tony Ventham, defending, told the court how Simpson had 'strong views' about the tuition fees, as an active member of the NUS, and that his actions had been a 'moment of madness'.

Kingston Crown Court (pictured) was shown CCTV footage of the violence in which Simpson is seen wearing a distinctive red outfit and shouting and swearing at police officers

'When he appeared at City of London Magistrates' Court, others were charged with more serious offences and committed to crown court, and he joined them,' Mr Ventham said.

'He has just completed a four year course in law and politics, which he achieved a 2:1, and is due to graduate on November 16.

'He plans to press on with his education, doing a masters in human rights law at Strathclyde.

'He worked throughout his university course at a call centre in customer services for a legal bank, doing 30 hours a week.

'He was elected steward of Unite union and spends time representing members with unfair dismissal employment issues.

'As a result, he has been offered a regional organiser job in Glasgow and will be one of the youngest to do that in the country.

'He acted impulsively that day, after seeing others that he thought were being treated badly.

Police are pictured trying to keep order as protesters force their way into the Tory Party headquarters in London last year

'If he is imprisoned for a few moments of what he describes as madness, he will lose his flat, work, and miss his graduation, which will affect his parents greatly.

'He will also lose his masters degree and the fees which he has paid.

'He is fully aware of the risk he stands of losing his liberty because of what he did and he is extremely unlikely to ever come before the courts again.

'The court must step back from the temptation to say that all involved must go to prison,' Mr Ventham added.

Family members wept in the packed public gallery as Judge Susan Tapping handed Simpson a four month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Judge Tapping said: 'For someone who is studying law and has hopes of entering that profession in the future, one of the first things you should have done is to stop and think about the consequences of what you are doing.

'Your behaviour that day was utterly disgraceful. Police were at Millbank to do their duty and allow a demonstration of sincerely held beliefs, while protecting property.

Damage to the Conservative Party headquarters in Millbank, central London, following the fees protests last year

'They were not there to be attacked by others. The protest was contaminated - no one remembers the student demonstration about fees, just the rioting.

'What happened was wrong and your behaviour did cross the custody threshold, but I am handing you a suspended sentence.

'This case is at magistrates' court level and I am giving you full credit for an early guilty plea.'

Simpson must also complete 120 hours unpaid work, but was not ordered to pay costs, as Judge Tapping said 'that would be a penny in the ocean compared to the costs that have been incurred from this, and as a student, you don't have any significant means.'

But Judge Tapping warned: 'If you don't do the unpaid work you will be in breach of your sentence.

'Put this behind you and try and make something of your life.'

Outside court Mr Simpson's father blasted the press coverage of the case, saying his son had been 'hung, drawn and quartered even before the judicial stage', adding that 'justice had been done in the courts, not the media'.